INITIAL BAHRAINI VIEWS ON GME PROGRAM INITIATIVES

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000695 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2014 TAGS: PREL EAID BA MEPI SUBJECT: INITIAL BAHRAINI VIEWS ON GME PROGRAM INITIATIVES REF: A. STATE 86312 ¶B. MANAMA 687 Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES ROBERT FORD, REASON 1.5 (D) ¶1. (U) Mission officers distributed program concept papers to some of our better contacts in Government and civil society and later followed up to gauge reactions. MFA Assistant Under Secretary Sheikh Abdelaziz bin Mubarak told Charge May 12 that he had studied the papers and he found the ideas reasonable. Bahrain already is working in several of the fields proposed, such as elections, transparency and education reform. If the Middle East initiative provided additional avenues for Bahrain to access particular kinds of assistance, then the GoB would welcome that. He also opined that the ideas presented should not generate much controversy among Arab states committed to reforms. None of the programs listed looked immediately problematic, he concluded. ¶2. (U) A senior Education Ministry official told us earlier this week that illiteracy is not a problem in Bahrain; the literacy rate here in about 97 percent. However, project initiatives aimed at closing the digital divide would be very useful, according to a senior curriculum specialist. Our Education contacts also said that the UNDP is working with the Education Ministry on improving information technology in the classroom but more help through the American initiative would be welcome. ¶3. (C) Comment: Our democracy-related NGO contacts have been slow to react to the program concept papers. Part of this results from their being seized with the ongoing confrontation with the Government over a petition drive launched by the hard-line opposition (ref b). On the evening of May 11, however, one of our contacts cautioned us that reduced American credibility due to regional events will make some Bahraini NGOs reluctant to engage, at least for now. FORD